Instead of it being an answer to the prayers of the swimming community in Salem, it became a question: Should Walker Pool have been built?

In the early 1960s, a public swimming pool was planned for Walker Junior High School in West Salem. It reportedly would cost $150,000, with the Salem School District and city of Salem splitting the cost.

The school board in 1963 wanted to cover the city's two swimming pools, Leslie and Olinger, for year-round use instead of building a third pool that could only be used in the summer. The only pools covered in Salem at the time were at the YMCA and YWCA.

The city suggested a compromise plan that year: Build a new pool at Walker and cover one of the existing pools.

In March 1966, pool supporters flooded a Salem School District budget meeting to push for a $150,000 levy for a new pool and to cover the other pools. While the effort proved successful, the Oregon Statesman reported "the budget committee may have paddled away from the opportunity of a lifetime" by voting down more extensive funding proposals over multiple years.

The city had $75,000 to help construct a pool but would need voters to support at tax increase in the May 1966 election so it could provide additional to support to cover Leslie and Olinger pools.

"I want it clearly understood that unless our proposals are approved in May, I don't see any money to cover these pools," Salem Mayor Vern Miller told the Oregon Statesman in a March 15, 1966, story. The impression that we can go along with anything other than the $75,000 for Walker pool, without approval of the tax base measure, is wrong. I think traffic lights rather than swimming pools."

Voters approved the school district's levy but voted down the city measure. Meanwhile, cost estimates for the three-pool project continued to grow. Cost estimates in November reached more than $630,000; there was $225,000 available.

"The Walker pool is being designed as a covered facility, but it hasn't been determined whether that pool would get priority over existing Olinger and Leslie pools. And it is doubtful that there would be enough money to cover any of the pools," the Oregon Statesman reported Sept. 30, 1966.

Salem School District Superintendent Charles Schmidt told the Capital Journal in May 1967 that selecting Walker for the pool was "a terrible mistake" and said the commitment had been made for the school board by city leaders.

School administrators told the newspaper the Walker site was too small for the pool and for educational needs and there were issues with a high water table.

However, three months later, Walker Pool plans were approved.

"School Board member Henry Hohwiesner Jr. said the board 'unfortunately got boxed in' as a result of pressure from a West Salem delegation at budget committee meeting. The committee was pressed into asking for the $150,000 levy without getting firm estimates of the cost of building the Walker pool and covering the others," the Oregon Statesman reported Aug. 25, 1967.

Work began on the 75-by-42-foot pool that fall. Olinger was 100 by 50 feet and Leslie was 100 by 55 feet.

It took the community a little while to warm to Walker; an Aug. 30, 1968, Oregon Statesman story said initial end-of-season attendance numbers indicated the pool "didn't get heavy use." George Sirnio, the director of the city-school recreation program, said "apparently West Salem youngsters continued to go to Leslie and Olinger pools, 'where the rest of the gang go.' "

For the next 40 years, Walker Pool was embraced by users of all ages, budget issues and closure threats notwithstanding.

Olinger Pool eventually was covered in 1971, reopening in 1972. Leslie Pool remained an outdoor facility and closed after the 1989 summer swimming season. It will be replaced by a parking lot as part of improvements to South Salem High School.

Walker Pool closed earlier this decade. It remains the last public swimming pool constructed by the city and school district.

Andy Zimmerman writes a column about local history twice per month. You can contact him with comments or suggestions for future stories at SJTimeCapsule@gmail.com.